Most anticipated watches to be launched at 2015 Baselworld

Mar 18, 2015

In anticipation of SPECTRE the 24th James Bond film scheduled to release in 2015, OMEGA has created a limited edition Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M model inspired by the Bond family coat of arms. Among the most striking elements of this 41.5 mm stainless steel timepiece is the oscillating weight of the movement visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. This component has been cut and shaped to resemble a gun barrel, a design feature associated with James Bond. Powered by the completely new OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibre 8507, this timepiece is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,007 gauss.

OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M James Bond @ Baselworld 2015

Patek Philippe Ref. 5524 Calatrava Pilot Travel Time brings together two areas in which Patek Philippe’s history and expertise excel – aviation watches and timepieces created for travelers. In the new Ref. 5524 Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, this advanced mechanism is part of the self-winding caliber 324 S C FUS manufacture movement with a sweep seconds hand, an analog date, and a heavy central rotor in 21K gold.

As for the movement, The Spiromax® spring that breathes in the Gyromax® balance is made of Silinvar®, a derivative of silicon. The special properties of this material, combined with the geometry patented by Patek Philippe, assure high dependability as well as the rate accuracy tolerance of -3/+2 seconds per day as specified by the Patek Philippe Seal.

Patek Philippe Ref. 5524 Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, Baselworld 2015

Blancpain introduces Grand Date, the first big-date watch in the Villeret line, recasting a caliber that Blancpain presented in 2005. The Grand Date is built on Caliber 6950, an automatic movement that is 32 mm wide and 4.75 mm thick. The 6950 has two mainspring barrels for a 72-hour power reserve. The movement has 285 components, among them 35 jewels. The big-date mechanism is designed to shift instantly at midnight. Caliber 6950 has a free-sprung Glucydur balance wheel and gold screws for fine adjustment. The balance spring is made of silicon.

Blancpain Villeret Grand Date, Baselworld 2015

Breitling will be presenting at 2015 Baselworld their first smart watch. Last year Breitling announced the B50, which at the time was their most cutting-edge electronic multifunction SuperQuartzTM chronograph movement with analog and digital displays made for pilots. The new B55 is essentially a more advanced, connected version of that timepiece.

According to Breitling, since the main assets of a smartphone are its screen and its ergonomic interface, owners of the B55 Connected can use their phone to perform certain adjustments (time-setting, time zones, alarms, display and operating parameters, night mode, etc.). The result is a considerable gain in comfort and efficiency. At the same time, the user may also upload the results of various measurements (flight times, etc.) from the chronograph to the smartphone so as to be able to read them more easily, store them or pass them on via wireless connectivity

Breitling B50 Baseworld 2015

Jaquet Droz will launch the Grande Seconde Deadbeat which incorporates several subtle design elements. To place even greater emphasis on the seconds in this model, the designers moved the seconds hand to the center of attention, in the center of the dial. From this position, the deadbeat seconds complication can be displayed to maximum effect. The traditional seconds hand location on this model is now home to a retrograde date display.

The dial is ivory Grand Feu enamel, which is an artistic creation itself. Grand Feu means “Great Fire”, an appropriate description of the manufacturing process, which involves heating the dial to nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The dials are difficult to create and the rejection rate is high, but the few that make it through the process are worth the effort. The result is a deep, rich look that sets the standard for elegance.

The Slim range is characterised by stencil Arabic numerals and an emphasis on minimalist dial and case design. The perpetual calendar is launching as a 39.5mm rose gold version, with an Hermes manufacture movement supplemented by an Agenhor perpetual calendar module.In addition to the perpetual calendar complication, the watch has a GMT hours sub-dial at 6 o’clock, and a mother of pearl moonphase indicator at 3 o’clock. There’s no word on the actual slimness of the watch, but the 42-hour power reserve, micro rotor movement is just 4mm thick. The Slim d’Hermes Perpetual Calendar is joined by a time-only equivalent, in the same 39.5mm case size and with the same 42-hour movement, which without the Agenhor module measures just 2.6mm thick. This time the watch is available in rose gold and stainless steel.

Hermès Slim d’Hermès Perpetual Calendar

This year, Girard-Perregaux is offering a new version, the Neo-Tourbillon With Three Bridges. The differences include the case (45mm x 14.45mm), some movement components and the bridges all in titanium. The shapes of the bridges across the exposed movement have also changed, taking inspiration from the architectural bridges of such luminaries as Zaha Hadid and Santiago Calatrava. To accommodate the bridges, Girard-Perregaux introduced a crystal with raised sides, known as a box crystal, to span the dial. This is a dark watch, with a gray/black color scheme lightened by pink-gold hands and wheels.

Attached to the movement through a gold appliqué system, this colorful miniature fresco features several references to the explorer’s journey to the Americas. Christopher Columbus carries the flag of the Spanish monarchy opposite two natives surrounded by palm trees and a parrot, while the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa Maria are seen on the horizon. Every detail is hand engraved and hand painted, making each piece unique.

ZENITH Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II

Glashütte Original’s PanoReserve and PanoMaticLunar families will each welcome two new members – one in red gold with a matte black dial, and one in stainless steel with an intense blue dial.

The PanoReserve case measures 40mm x 11.7mm and it houses the manufactory’s Caliber 65-01 with 42 hour power reserve and 48 jewels, including five set in gold chatons. This manual-wind movement features traditional Glashütte three-quarter plate construction with the balance bridge and second cock engraved by hand. A duplex swan-neck fine adjustment compliments the balance with 18 weighted screws.

The PanoMaticLunar cases measures 40mm x 12.77mm. These models are driven by the Caliber 90-02, a mechanical automatic movement with 47 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve. This Glashütte three-quarter plate movement is finished with beveled edges and incorporates several special features, including a skeletonized rotor with 21k-gold perimeter weight, and duplex swan-neck fine adjustment mechanism, and a hand-engraved balance bridge.